Hello, and welcome to the first instalment of the 'Changemakers' series! In it, I'll be shining a spotlight on some organizations that I think are doing good work in the realm of environmental conservation. You can read more about the story behind the series here.

As a WestCoaster, born and raised, today I'm excited to share with you a wonderful organization and an issue that's close to my heart and home: salmon.

If you've been following along with my artwork for even a short time, you'll know that I love drawing salmon. Yep, those flowey fins and fine scales seem to make their way through my pen and onto my paper. But my interest in salmon has grown significantly as I've learned more and more about them. Salmon feed the wolves and bears and even feed the forest, their bodies creating nutrient-rich soil. If you want to look at one animal in the Pacific that is so vital, so integral to humans, animals, ecosystem and culture, look no further than the salmon.

As my fav John Muir quote goes, 'when we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe'. On that note...

Try picking out a salmon and you won’t just pick up a slippery fish, you’ll find yourself holding an entire ecosystem, the rich culture and livelihood of the First Nations people and the health of our forests. In your hands, you’ll feel the heartbeat of our waterways.

Which brings us to today. Where are we now?

Unfortunately, wild salmon aren't doing so well, in fact their very future is in jeopardy.

Salmon are such incredibly determined and resilient creatures that face many obstacles on their journey from birth through maturity, to their migration upstream to spawn and die. Without any human-interference in their natural rhythms, it's still a pretty tough life! But the thing is, human-interference is providing major obstacles to their health and future. The hands of industry and disease and are holding dying salmon in their hands.

Some of the threats:

-fish farms

-disease + parasites (fish farms being a huge culprit in this)

-overfishing

-habitat destruction

-pollution

-climate change

Yes, that's a huge stack of issues. But the good news is, it's not too late to actually do something about it. Watershed Watch Salmon Society is one of those organizations that is working at the frontline of these issues.

(In their own words:) Watershed Watch Salmon Society advocates for BC’s wild salmon and the waters they swim in. Since 1998, Watershed Watch has been exposing threats to salmon and their habitats, calling for conservation action, and promoting solutions.

We do this by providing scientific expertise, forming strategic alliances, bearing witness on the ground and on the water, and having a seat at the tables that influence wild salmon management. We engage the public and provide tools for effective advocacy, taking a balanced, solutions­based approach to difficult issues. We put improvement before ideals, and don’t shy away from holding government, industry, and others to account.

Watershed Watch works to protect BC’s wild salmon on many fronts: pushing for effective fisheries management and implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy, working to halt expansion of open­net salmon farming, and protecting salmon habitat and ecological flows.

HOW WE DO IT

Scientific expertise—Working with scientists from universities, other non-profits, governments, First Nations, and the private sector.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I just want to curl up in a ball and hide away. I mean, between the challenges of climate change, species extinction, oil spills and pipe line expansions (not to mention the refugee crisis, war, rampant racism and the absurdities of disconnected world leaders) it's pretty easy to feel helpless and overwhelmed. Yes, it'd be easier to just pull the covers back over my eyes. But I can't deny this little tug at my heart, that says 'open your eyes, create, speak.'

So, I've been asking myself some hard questions. Like, how am I contributing positively to the world? What issues do I really care about? What do I believe in? and how am I using my voice?

Here are a few things I've come up with:

we need to focus on hope, fear begets more fear

there are people + organizations doing great work in the world, but seldom does the media focus on them (fear sells a whole lot better)

I believe that creativity is inherently valuable

I also believe that creativity can be used as a force for good in the world

we are nature and I believe that now more than ever, it's time for us to realign our lives and lifestyles with this fact

With this on my mind, I've decided to launch 'Changemakers'. In it, I'll be shining a spotlight on some organizations that I think are doing good work in the realm of environmental conservation. Aferall, change can only come first through awareness. I'll be writing about them here on this blog and then I'll be releasing a special edition print where a percentage of the profits will go to the organization. My intention is to do this a few times a year. I recognize that this is only a small gesture but I do believe that we need to use our voices for good in whatever way we can.

Stay tuned as I share about the first organization I'm partnering with and for the special art print I'll be releasing.